MARCH 22 & 23
A Really Big Deal

Oh, those drafts, draft crosses, and mules – the kind with backcountry and recreational riding experience on their resumes were the really big deal at Billings Livestock’s March 22-23 “Spring Special Catalog Sale” featuring Trail, Outfitting, Guide, Guest horses and mules.

The 26th annual March spring event celebrates the horses and mules who have packed tourists, trail riders, wild game, and seen untouched places and includes consignments from some of the wests most prominent outfitters..

Stats for 2024 set records as 623 head were offered – 507 horses and mules selling grade (unregistered)  –  with 25 no sales/pass outs,  and a top five average of $19,800 – that included two buckskins, two roans, and one dun molly mule.

Joining the BLS High Sellers Club, welcome to Hip 202 “Dusty” a 2018 Grade Dun Haflinger Cross Gelding consigned by Ervin Miller, Hulett, WY.

Ride, drive single or double, the gentle, safe to ride or drive gelding had seen lots of miles outside and on the trails.  The everything easy gelding brought $22,500.

Reserve high seller at $21,000 was Hip 272 “Sallee’s Red River” a 2010 Grade Red Roan Draft Cross Gelding consigned by foundation consignors Black Mountain Outfitters, Scott and Sandy Sallee, Emigrant, MT.

Standing 17 hands, the gentle, solid, versatile gelding – ranch, trail ride and guest horse – stayed broke with time off, came picket broke, hobble broke, been ridden in parades, and around dogs and traffic.

Top selling mule and third overall, Hip 363 “Sally” a ten year old Molly offered by Micah Vineyard, Riggins, ID, had been ridden extensively all over the Hells Canyon and Salmon River Canyon, had packed meat, horns, hide, and drug calves to the fire and took grandma to hunting camp.

Suitable for most riders, the nearly perfect molly brought $19,500.

Billings Livestock was proud to welcome the Wowk Ranch and Miller Horses production offering on Friday evening where 27 head of home bred, home raised draft crosses were offered.

Brabant, percheron, gypsy, friesian, and Noriker crosses, a unique set of yearlings brought from $1,500 to $5,500.

Grade horses and mules had their day as 26 head brought $10,000 or better, with 13 head at $12,000 plus.

Rafter D mules consigned a big set of mules – 29 in all – and big they were as many were draft crossed.

The something for everybody set of mules brought from $3,400 to $7,000.

Loose horse division rocked it again where 183 head were offered as is, where is, no speech or rider, with the top loose horse hitting $8,800.  26 head brought $4,000 plus, with 90 at $1,600 or better.

Loose averages include the top five at $7,320, top ten at $6,650, To 20 at $5,670, top 50 brought $4,388, and the top 100 averaged $3,205.

Next up at Billings is the April Special Catalog Sale and Spring Rope Horse Special April 26-27.  All kinds, all classes of horses sell on premise with online bidding available.

A full performance preview as well as a jackpot team roping on sale horses will be held Friday, April 26.

To consign, see what’s coming, and sign up for online bidding, see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

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FEBRUARY 22-23-24
RECORD. BREAKING.

Billings Livestock’s annual “February Special Catalog Sale” February 23-24-25 saw new records set – again – in the catalog division as the weekend’s top horse sold for $147,000.

With 820 head of horses offered over the three days, the big horse sale weekend in Billings, Montana included the annual “Sons and Daughters” sale session featuring top-end quality and pedigreed individuals that drove the market to new highs as the top five averaged a smooth $69,000.

Adding additional energy and reach to the quality presented, the “ShowCase Sale Sessions” both Friday and Saturday allowed for on-premise as well as online bidding and buying options for approved buyers.  Nearly 600 new online buyers applied for purchase.

Four out of the top five selling horses were stallions – three of them palomino –  including Hip 321 “Smart Guy” a 2021 AQHA Palomino Stallion sired by Smart Chic Olena and out of the $100K money earning mare Whizin Off Sparks x Topsail Whiz.

Offered by Cooper Smith, Smith Ranch, Whitesboro, TX, Daniel Schloemer, Agent, the young stallion came 6 panel negative, had been in professional reining training for a year, and was eligible for so many incentives.

Red roan and loaded with bone, foot, and all the charisma packaged together in Hip 328 “LightstrikenHashtags” a 2021 AQHA Stallion sired by Hashtags and out of a Dual Rey daughter consigned by Matt Mardis, Kingston, OK.

Shown in the preview, the gentle, well broke stallion was eligible for a multitude of incentives and sold to Will Bentz, Burns, OR.

He was sired by the boss – Metallic Cat – and came palomino in color, and Hip 309 “Ima Metallic Gold” a 2014 AQHA stallion offered by Chappel-Slavin Partnership, Collinsville, TX stood 15.1 hands.

Out of a Dual Pep daughter, Dual Citizen, the stand-up stallion brought $50,000 and sold to T Bone Cattle Co., Alberta, Canada.

A stellar selection of mares came name brand and fancy, as the February event was loaded with mares with a lot to talk about  – including daughters of Dash Ta Fame, Dual Rey, Metallic Cat, Stevie Rey Von, Smart Little Lena, Once In A Blu Boon, Electric Snow, Smooth Talkin Style, Sixes Pick, High Brow Cat, and so many more.

Top end geldings, ponies, and draft crosses were also offered, with Hip 210 “Drifter” a 2018 Grade Draft Cross gelding consigned by Ervin Miller, Hulett, WY earning top draft cross honors with a $35,000 sales ticket.

In the gelding department, the weekend’s Number one gelding belonged to Tyler Thomas, Dalhart, TX who offered Hip 411 “Deebo” a 2020 AQHA Red Roan by Hashtags that came honest, broke, and started roping.

The first-class gelding brought $40,000.

Sale averages prove the depth of the quality where the top five averaged $69,000, top ten at $55,050, top 20 brought $43,550, top 50 at $32,630, and the top 100 averaged $24,232.

137 head brought $10,000 or better, with 52 over $20,000.

However – a horse for every budget  – 68 head of catalog horses brought from $2,500 to $5,000.

A red-hot loose market prevailed with standing room only at Billings as America’s Number One loose market continued to set the pace with a $9,000 high, a top five average of $6,880, top ten at $6,290, top 50 at $4,625, and the top 100 averaged $3,706.

97 head brought $2,500 plus, with 35 at $4,000 or better and 21 at $5,000 plus.

Billings Livestock was proud to welcome the American Quarter Horse Association and their OnSite Services to the February event allowing customers a one-on-one experience with an AQHA representative.

Coming up next at Billings Livestock is the annual “Spring Special Catalog Sale” March 23 featuring Trail, Outfitting, Guide, and Guest Horses.

Loaded with recreational horses, the sale will also prospects and finished ranch and arena horses.  A full indoor preview will be held Friday, March 22.

Consign and see what’s coming at www.billingslivestock.com

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